Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Rhodes & Cunningham Families, Part II

Isaac Prall's story of his Rhodes & Cunningham familes was lacking some in accuracy. I eventually tracked down the Zachariah Rhodes details. He captained the sloop Hannah & sailed from Baltimore on 14 August 1815 for Puerto Rico, with brother Perry as mate. They never reached their destination.

Harriet died a few years later & Ann was left in the care of the Porters. Ann's cousin, John Brown Jr. named the Porters & Ann in his will. After Captain Porter died, Bathia & Ann moved to Harford Co., MD, where both married into the Prall family.

My guess is that the Polix & Castor was one of the ships that Ralph Porter captained & Isaac confused vessels.

The tales related about James Cunnigham's run-ins with pirates, probably took place in the early 1800s during the Barbary Coast wars. He was wounded & captured, but was able to signal a fellow Mason or Redman & his release was arranged. I suspect that this was the younger James, but am not certain.

Isaac recollected that his mother was about the best reader he ever heard & that he was fascinated by "mother-aunt" Bathia's adventures traveling the world with her 1st husband.

Isaac also wrote briefly about his Prall-Rittenhouse line. This was filled with misassumptions as well. 

No comments:

Post a Comment